The Time Has Come

If you've been around Raquel's world for a minute, you will know that my biggest stress factor is my relationship with the RA. 
Oh sure I have:
road rage issues,
work drama, 
doctor issues,
my kid's shoot their teeth out with staples, etc. But when you are in an unhealthy relationship all that falls to the wayside. My relationship has spanned 12 years with the RA and it has always been tricky but there had always been enough good to outweigh the bad. However the last three years have been the worse. His baby mama drama has gotten out of control, his finances are out of control leaving me to support the entire family of 6 independently out of my small paycheck while he gets a new car,  he eats out  while I pack lunch each day, and he goes on vacation while I pick up extra hours to pay bills. He comes and goes as he wishes with no regard to schedules, pre made plans, or just plain ole decency. He seems completely miserable there with us. So I decided he should go. I love him but honestly just do not like him nor does he like me. I only held on this long for the kids. The thing is, yes, the kids have their dad around full time because that is the one thing RA is good at. His lack of responsibility and respect have turned me into a monster leaving me emotionally, and financially drained, therefore I have not a whole lot to offer my kids. So after much reflection I have decided ultimately that he should go. 
RA just seems to resent having to play the role of a man. He resents having to pay bills or repair things and coming home period. He seems intent on acting like a boy and since I am mid 30's and super busy raising 4 kids I have no time for boys. It is scary but only for how it will affect my kids. My oldest two (which are from a previous marriage) and I have discussed this. They have expressed feeling like RA does not want to be there with us and once the kids start seeing what I try to hide the jig is up. 
So this Sunday, the RA will be moving on yet again. That means he will probably move back to his hometown which will leave the two smaller kids (his kids) quite distressed. But I will do everything and anything I can to fill that void. I feel positive about it, after all this is not our first split. I think that once I get all his drama out of my life I will be a better parent, a least a happier one. Which ultimately will be good for us all. So here I go! Wish me luck!

$440.00----Come On!

What in the HELL! I have electric heat for the back of my home and gas heat for the front and to heat the water. Everyone knows that heating bills rise in the winter but DAMN, My total combined heating costs for last month was $440!!!!!!
Uuugghh $440!! Seriously?? That is just outta control. I decided to do a lil investigating and discovered that I am paying for our towns lovely holiday lighting decor. Well not just me but it damn sure feels like it's just me. $440! Our town hangs these lovely lil-Christmasy-decor-lighty-things on each of the street lights for the holiday season. They are quite cute. They are snowmen and holly leaves, and Santas and poinsettias,etc. Each light has a rather large one hanging from it that lights up. Oh they are quite cute and they definitely get you in the Christmas spirit but I had no clue that the people, more specifically I would have to cover the cost of the lighting that each one has. Apparently they split the costs for the lights between all the townspeople. That's outrageous!
Call me Scrooge but I would rather not have to foot the cost of the towns holiday decor. Take it down I say! How about hanging some non electric holiday flags? Now I am not insinuating that my family did not use a ton of electric and gas last month. It was very cold and we had several snow days where we were all home and David hadn't worked in weeks, and two of my kids were home two weeks sick, and school was out for two weeks so there was definitely some extra usage going on but come on..$440! Am I heating the White House?
So how much was your largest heating bill this season?